Escape to the Country sometimes seems unfinished/

The new format of the programme annoys me. They only show 3 properties, one of which is the "mystery house", and so likely doesn't meet all or any of their criteria. So, that leaves them with a choice of two. They fill the rest of the programme visiting breweries/orchards/farmers markets. I would rather see 4 properties!

I always like the Cornish ones. All those people who want a character cottage and are then appalled to find that "character" means small windows. low ceilings, probably no mains gas, but it will have a septic tank. The couples who are intending to work (rather than running a Wellness Centre} have very unrealistic ideas about travel. I've seen someone with a job lined up in Helston while looking at houses around Bude. I find myself saying "Don't you realise what those roads are like in the summer?"

Some of the houses seen in this programme are fabulous & located in some very remote yet picturesque areas but being stuck in the back of beyond is absolutely no fun & quite disturbing. As a young couple we brought a place in the sticks but it was so isolated & my husband worked odd hours. More often than not I was alone with a baby & every noise or knock on the door gave me the willies.
We moved pronto to a bustling town & have never regretted it. Furthermore, the isolated house is now surrounded by new builds.🤔

yes, there are so many WOW's when they find they get change back from £500,000

I don’t understand them talking about the parties and entertaining they’re going to do in their new property. Given that they’ve never lived in the area before who’s going to them?

I just looking inside the homes, but I do get cross if they don't buy the one I like.

“Oh, look at the view, imagine waking up to that every day” - having lived in a very beautiful but very remote place for many years, I can tell them that wonderful views do not a wonderful life make. And those who supposedly want to live in the country, but think a house that’s a mile to the nearest shop is “a bit remote” just do my head in! They live in la-la land so many of them.

keepingquiet

I stopped watching years ago. I got tired of people wanting paddocks, inglenooks, good schools and a sense of community etc etc.

I couldn't figure out how so many young couples had so much money, and was jealous of older ones who also had small fortunes.

It all seemed too fake.

Yes.......all that and the fact that people seem to appear on the show to simply show-off with how much money they have to actually spend on a house.

I quite like the beginning bit at their existing property because it tells whether they are upsizing or downsizing, or swapping to a nicer area for less money, or simply having a dramatic lifestyle change. Occasionally I think to myself, "you're bonkers not to consider how good you've got it in your existing place compared with your unrealistic dreams"!

The presenter often says at the end “we’ve had a good week”, yet it appears, from other things said, that the 3 (sometimes 4) houses visited were over 2 days! The section at the beginning where the people wishing to move stand outside their existing property, chatting and looking very awkward - so corny!!

Sparklefizz

Lovetopaint I am the same. We are pragmatists. To add to your list - The couple might have children but never ask about schools. Or they are in their 60s but fancy keeping pigs and alpacas with no previous experience or realisation of the 24/7 tie. Plus they have no idea how big one acre of land is, let alone the 5 acres they have asked for..... or the upkeep involved.

Too true Sparklefizz. Especially the pigs and alpacas!

Sounds a lovely outcome Labadi. Great experience as well. Wish we had more episodes showing contestants settled into their chosen homes. Today the show ended with an extra part showing the couple outside another house they were going to buy and getting an update. It’s as if a producer had been reading these posts!

Yes, they used to do a return visit years ago.

Hope you like where you live 🙂

We are the idiots that actually did Escape to the Country & bought the house ! Yes they came back & filmed us in situ. It has to be over 17 yrs ago - I have to say we had so much fun filming & spending time with the film crew. Happy memories ! We were north London to East Sussex. Sadly not on you tube or any other media. I just have a vhs & dvd !

I rarely watch it unless it's in our local area or where we used to live years ago.

I stopped watching years ago. I got tired of people wanting paddocks, inglenooks, good schools and a sense of community etc etc.

I couldn't figure out how so many young couples had so much money, and was jealous of older ones who also had small fortunes.

It all seemed too fake.

I find some of the budgets, particularly those of quite young couples, to be quite astonishing, Ziplok

They sound pleased and surprised if somewhere comes in at less than £900,000!

Love this post. I agree.
There are lots of parodies of Escape too.
I like to laugh at and shout at.
I enjoyed this weeks 2024 programme but dislike the older ones now 2019 .

gulligranny

Shysal, I watched one this week which was made this year - and they still didn't tell us what the conclusion was. I so agree, it spoils the programme as I'd really like to know.

I'd also like to see four properties rather than the escapees mooching around a nearby town or the presenter doing something "to help". I want to drool over more lovely kitchens, or turn my nose up at hideous decor ...

Lol, me too

The thing I find irksome is the budget issue. The house searchers stipulate a maximum budget, so what do the show makers do? Find them properties well over their budget but then say “but the owners know your budget and are prepared to a have realistic conversation”.
I’m pretty sure that sellers aren’t going to want to reduce their prices by £10, £20, £30 thousand in order to meet the buyers budget. I wouldn’t.

That was why I gave up watching the programme - the unfinished element.

I know of someone whose house was featured but didn’t make it to the show. It seems they have half a dozen properties lined up. If correct how come the programme doesn’t deliver what the prospective escapees say they want? No neighbours so they show a middle terrace house or apartment. Close to local amenities so they take them a mile up a dirt track. Must have a garage but it doesn’t. Large garden so it has a tiny courtyard.

Totally agree with you. Why do we not know if bid was successful or not or whatever.

We had a lady come to give a talk to my WI a couple of years ago. Her and her husband had applied and been chosen to be on Escape to the Country.
She said they didn't really like a couple of houses shown, one was ok but no mention was made by them of putting in an offer.
At the end of the prog as the words went up, it was announced that they had gone back to one property for a second viewing and had put in an offer, which was accepted.
It wasn't true!

Why is that any of your business?